Crown cap conveying system



Dec. 3, 1946.

H. A. FINK CROWN C AP CONVEYING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 17, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 3, 1946; H. A. FINK 2,412,137

CROWN CAP CONVEYING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 17, 1944 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 3, 1946. H. A. FINK cnowu CAP CONVEYING sys'nm 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 17', 1944 lallllll-l'lllllaI-Ilnl'llllllllu ll Patented Dec. 3, 1946 t l UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE 'caown carcomrmc srsrm HenryLFink,PelhamManor,N.Y-,aulgnorto Continental Can company, Inc., New York, N. Y, a corporation of New York Application January 11; 1944, Serial No. 518,572

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An object of the invention is to provide an hopper or receptacle, and mechanism for controlling the passage of articles overthedividing way - e 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fige a Figure 4 is an end elevation of the hopper or receptacle and associated control mechanism as viewed from the left of Figure3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged scale fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 showing a switch and operating cam forming part of the control mechanism.

improved arrangement of a plurality of machines for performing similar operations on work articles in combination with means for conveying articles to the machines and automatic con trol mechanism for so apportioning the feeding of articles from the conveying means to the respective machines as to insure that each machine will always be furnished with an adequate supply of articles to be worked upon.

Another object of the invention is to provide equipment of the character referred to which is especially adapted for use in the manufacturing of crown caps. v

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism responsive to piling up of work articles in a receptacle for operating a deflector gate to discontinue delivery of articles from a travelling conveyor to the receptacle while the conveyor continues to run.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following-detailed description of a representative embodiment of the invention, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a preferred arrangement of a primary machine for preparing articles, such as cross cap blanks, three machines for performing similar subsequent operation on the articles such as inserting cork discs in cap blanks, and mechanism for conveying articles from the primary machine to the other three machines and then away from said other three machines.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a preferred arrangement of three additional machines for performing further similar operations on the articles, such as inserting paper discs in assembled caps and cork discs, and mechanism for conveying articles from the three machines shown in Figure 1 to said additional machines and then away from them. It is intended that Figure l be read as a continuation of Figure 1,

as though the two figures were joined along the line H.

Figure2 is a top plan view of a feeding conveyor, a hopper or receptacle, a dividing way for transporting articles from the conveyor to the Figure 6 is a wiring diagram.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention shown diagrammatically in Figures 1 and 1 includes a machine group A including a press 'A for forming crown cap blanks from flat sheet material. Formed blanks are delivered by an elevating conveyor A to a horizontal travelling feeding conveyor B. Three similar machines C C,and C for inserting cork discs in the press cap blanks are deployed along the conveyor B and are equipped respectively with hoppers or receptacles D, D, D for containing supplies of cap blanks in which the cork discs are to be inserted by the associated machines C C, and C Pressed blanks are delivered from the conveyor .3 to the hoppers D D, D respectively over dividing ways of passage E E", and E Mechanism to be described later automatically controls the flow of cap blanks over the dividing ways in accordance with the size of the supply of blanks in-the respectively associated receptacles or hoppers. Cap blanks and cork discs assembled by the machines C C, and C are deposited respectively upon conveyors F F and F which discharge onto conveyors G G, and G which in turn deliver the assemblies to a single inclined elevating conveyor H. Any surplus cap blanks which are carried by the conveyor B past all three cork disc inserting ma-- chines are deflected laterally by a baflle I so as to fall into a surplus receiving receptacle or chute J.

The assembled cap blanks and cork discs are discharged fromthe elevating conveyor H to a horizontal feeding conveyor K along which are deployed three similar machines L L and L adapted to insert paper discs in the cap blanks and glue them in place on the cork discs. The machines L L and L are provided respectively with hoppers or receptacles M M and M adapted to hold a supply of assembled caps and cork discs so as to provide for continuous feeding of such assemblies into the paper disc inserting machines. Automatic mechanism to he described later controls the flow of cap and cork disc assemblies from the feeding conveyor K over dividing ways N N, and N respectively to the hoppers M M, M. Caps fitted with the paper discs by the machines L L, and L are carried into the receptacle D 3 on respectively by conveyors O and O" which discharge'upon conveyors P. P, and P which in turn deliver the completed caps to a receiving box Q. Surplus assemblies of caps and cork discs which the conveyor K carries past all three machines L L and L are deflected laterally by an inclined baiile B so as to fall into a surplus receiving receptacle or chute S.

In its general nature the mechanism for, automatically controlling the .delivery of articles to the'receptacles D, D, D and M M, M is .responsive to the quantities of articles in the receptacles for determining whether the articles carried by the feeding conveyors are diverted to the machines or are passed on to succeeding machines. The mechanism operates to eflect delivery of articles to a given receptacle when the supply therein is at a predetermined minimum and to discontinue the delivery as soon as the supply builds up to a predetermined maximum. Thus, considering the 'cork disc inserting machine C when the supply of cap blanks in the receptacle D decreases to a predetermined minimum, cap blanks'carried by the conveyor 13 are deflected so as to flow over the dividing way E When the supply in the receptacle D is raised to the predetermined maximum the control mechanism operates to permit the cap blanks to be carried by the conveyor B past the dividing way E Assuming that the supply in the receptacle D is at or below the predetermined minimum, the control mechanism will operate to divert cap blanks over the dividing way 132 into the receptacle D. The supplying of articles to the receptacles D, L, IF, and I. is controlled similarly so as to insure that all of 'armtandailxedpostllurgesthearmpto rock'the gate to the position shown in full lines. that is the position'in which it does not deflect articles to the dividing way E Admission of 1 fluidunder pressure to the cylinder I 2 is controlled by electrically operated valve mechanismii. The cylinder l2 and valve mechanism ii are not shown in detail since they may be of any suitable or conventional construction. Conductors l8 and I! lead to the mechanism it and are the hoppers or receptacles will be fed from time to time and will not become empty.

Figures 2 to '6 inclusive show a preferred form of mechanism for controlling the diverting of articles to the dividing ways. The mechanism associated with each of the dividing ways E E E and N N, W is 'the same so that a description of thecontrolling mechanism associated with the dividing way E will serve also as a description of the mechanism associated with each of the other dividing ways.

The conveyor B is carried by a frame I to which the upper end of the dividing way E is The lower end of the dividing secured as at 2. way E is supported upon thereceptacle D by brackets 3. The dividing way E is inclined downwardly from the conveyor B to the receptacle D so that articles deflected into the dividing way will slide into the receptacle.

A bracket 4 secured to the conveyor frame I is formed with an oil'set and upwardly projecting bearing sleeve 5 which pivotally' mounts the .pintle 6 of a deflecting gate member 1 adapted to be moved to the ineifective position shown in full lines in Figure 2 for permitting articles to be carried by the conveyor B .past the dividing way E or to be moved to the effective position shown in dash lines for deflecting articles from the conveyor B to the dividing way E A collar 8 secured to the upper end of the pintle 6 rests upon the top of the sleeve 5 for supporting the gate I and holding it spaced a little above the conveyor B.

Mechanism for actuating or swinging the gate I selectively to its two positions referred to above included in an electric circuit, the controlling of which is described hereinafter.

when less than the predetermined supply of articles is in the receptacle D the electricalcircuit will be completed through the conductors l6 and I1 so that the valve mechanism I! will admitpressure into the cylinder I! to force the rod Ii outwardly and swing the gate I to the diverting position shown in dash lines in Figure 2. Novel control mechanism is responsive to the piling up of articles in the receptacle D for breaking the circuit through the conductors |6|'| and the valve mechanism ii for relieving the pressure in the cylinder 12 and enabling the spring I! to contract and swing the gate 1 back to its full line position so as to permit articles to be carried by the conveyor B past the dividing way E. In the form shown a horizontall disposed shaft i8 is mounted by standards i9 and 20 carried by the receptacle D An operating member generally designated 2| is pivotally' mounted by the shaft l8, and depends into vthe receptacle D so as to extend transversely to ,in the normal position shown in Figure 3 when the supply of articles in the receptacle D is at or below a predetermined minimum. When articles discharged by the dividing way lil pile up in the receptacle D to a predetermined maximum amount, they will pile or crowd against the operating member 2! so as to swing it clockwise as viewed in Figure 3. The provision or the inclined lower plate portion 26 insures that the member 2i will be swung to operating position in response to the predetermined piling of articles within the receptacle D without being held back by articles which may have passed under the member 2| before being piled up and into contact with the member 2 l.

Swinging of the operating member II in response to piling up of articles is utilized for opening the electric circuit which energizes the valve mechanism II. To this end a cam 2l'formed with a low part 28 and a rise 29 is secured to the shaft i8 for cooperation with the plunger 30 of a micro switch it mounted on a bracket 32 integral with the standard I9. The switch 3| is adapted to be closed when the plunger 30 is extended as shown in Figure 5 wherein the cam 21 is illustrated as occupying a position corresponding to the position of the operating member 2| shown in Figure 3. when the operating member 2i is swung in response to piling of articles in the receptacle D the cam rise 29 presses the switch plunger 30 inwardly to break the electrical circuit.

Current for energizing the valve mechanism I under control of the switch 3| is' furnished by a supply line including conductors 33 and 34 shown in Figure 6. The conductor I 6 previously referred to leads from the conductor 33 to the valve mechanism i5, and the conductor l1 leads from the valve mechanism I5 through the switch 3| to a conductor 35 which leads through a cutout switch 36 to the supply line conductor 34. It will be apparent that when the supply 01 articles in the receptacle D! is at or below a predetermined minimum the operating member 2| will be in the position shown in Figure 3, the cam 21 will be in the position shown in Figure 5, and the switch 3| will be closed, so that the valve mechanism i5 will be connected across the line 3334 by means of the conductors l3 and II, the switch 3|, the conductor .35 and the switch 38. When, however, the articles pile up in the receptacle D to a predetermined maximum, causing the operating member 2| to be swung clockwise fromthe position shown inFigure 3, the switch 3| will be opened so as to deenergize the valve mechanism l5 and permit the spring l3 to move the gate I away from its article diverting position so as to discontinue delivery of articles over the dividing way E to the reception D When the supply or articles in the receptacle D is lessened to the predetermined minimum the operating member 2| will swing back to the position shown in Figure 3 so as to relieve the plunger 30 and eflect closing of the switch 3| and energizing oi the valve mechanism It. This will cause fluid under pressure to be admitted to the cylinder I! to project the rod outwardly and swing the gate I back to its article diverting and overflow the receptacle D but will be carried past the machine C to the machines C and C Production of the machines C and C can continue while the machine C is being repaired. If repairs can be eflected within a reasonably short time the machines L L and L will not become starved for work articles because the supply of articles already in the receptacles M M3, and M will serve as a cushion for the associated machines to draw upon. I

The mechanism shown by way of illustration embodies the invention in the form now preferred but it will be understood that changes may be made without departing from the invention as deflned in the claims.

I claim:

1. In automatic control mechanism for article conveyors the combination of a conveyor having a dividing way of passage; a receptacle for receiving articles from said dividing way; a de- "flector gate; means mounting said gate to be position. Supplying or articles over the dividing ways E E L L, and I. is the same as the mechanism for controlling the flow or articles over the dividing way E Figure 6 shows diagrammatically the electrical connections associated with the control mechanism for the dividing ways E E' and E Similar electrical connections are provided for the control mechanism associated with the dividing ways N. N, and N.

The capacity or the press A is greater than the combined capacities of each group 01' machines C C". C and L L and 11'. In a preferred arrangement for use in the manufacturing 01 crown caps, the press A has a capacity or production rate of 1600 cap blanks per minute and each or the machine C C. C, and U, L, and IP has a capacity of 533 caps per minute. Thus, when all 01' the machines are operating an adequate supply of work articles will be maintained in the hoppers or receptacles in readiness to be received and worked upon by each of the machines C, C", C and U, L, I). I! any one of out stopping the feed conveyors 1B and K at any moved selectively to an effective position for deflecting articles from said conveyor to said dividing way or to an ineffective position in which it does not deflect the articles to said dividing way; spring means urging said gate to one of said positions; fluid pressure operated means for moving said gate to the other of said positions; electrical means for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure operated means; a shaft; a plate secured to said shaft; means pivoting said shaft and plate to swing about a substantially horizontal axis with the plate depending into said receptacle whereby said plate is adapted to be swung by articles piled up in saidreceptacle; a cam on said shaft; and a switch operable by said cam for controlling said electrical means.

2. In automatic control mechanism for article conveyors the combination or a conveyor having means for moving said gate to the other of said positions; electrical means for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure operated means; a plate having an inclined bottom portion; means pivoting said plate to swing about a substantially horizontal axis and to depend into said receptacle, the inclination of said plate bottom portion being downwardly and towards the point of discharge of articles from said dividing way into said receptacle whereby said plate is adapted to be swung by articles piled up in said receptacle; a

cam movable in response to such swinging or said plate; and a switch operable by said cam for controlling said electrical means. i

HENRY A. PINK. 

